Koci wants to show more than his fists

CHRIS KUCCHICAGO TRIBUNE

David Koci used the last month to do more than recover from a broken nose, he worked on his offensive skills. While no one will mistake the 6-foot-6-inch winger for scoring machine Patrick Kane, he believes he can contribute beyond his role as an enforcer.

"I took advantage of this month and tried to get better and I think it will show," said Koci, who was injured Oct. 25 in a fight with the Bruins' Zdeno Chara and hasn't played since. "Offensively I was working more on my positioning and my hands and my quickness. As I was watching the games, I tried to pick up on the positioning. I just had a broken nose so I could do pretty much everything and I feel very confident right now."

Coach Denis Savard said Wednesday "there's a good chance" Koci will be in the lineup Thursday night when the Hawks resume their six-day trip against the Flames in Calgary.

"It's an absolute dream to be in the NHL," Versteeg said. "This is the shot I've been looking for my whole life."

Versteeg, 21, was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, about an hour and 40 minutes south of Calgary.

"I told everyone I wanted to play in the Saddledome some day so my family and friends could watch me play," said Versteeg, who is expected to be on a line Thursday with Robert Lang and Patrick Sharp. "To play my first NHL game there is a little surreal. I'm still on Cloud 9."

On Wisconsin

Another call-up from Rockford, Jake Dowell, was a teammate of Hawks forward Adam Burish for three seasons at Wisconsin and they won an NCAA championship together in 2006. Dowell is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday alongside Burish on the Hawks' checking line and penalty-killing unit.

"I want to bring anything I can to the table," Dowell said. "I want to bring energy, play well defensively and try to be really good on the penalty kill."

Dowell's locker was placed next to Burish at the Hawks' practice facility in Bensenville.

"It obviously helps a lot having a familiar face to help guide me," Dowell said.

Still waiting

Veteran winger Sergei Samsonov still is looking for his elusive first goal of the season after 15 games.

"I feel pretty good, I'm getting chances," Samsonov said. "As long as you're getting chances you're doing something right. I'm to the point where I'm talking to the goalies and asking their help. The reality is you just have to keep going."

One-timers

Veteran winger Jason Williams will make the trip for the three games in western Canada but won't play Thursday night with a strained groin. ... Nikolai Khabibulin will be in goal Thursday night and again Saturday night in Edmonton and Patrick Lalime will get the call Sunday night in Vancouver.